Philips Korea, the local unit of multinational health technology company Philips, announced Wednesday the findings of a survey revealing that many Koreans struggle with poor sleep quality but do not seek active treatment for sleep disorders, particularly for breathing-related conditions like sleep apnea.

The survey conducted by Hankook Research on behalf of Philips Korea polled 2,000 Korean adults on their perceived sleep patterns and sleep-related breathing disorders. It found the average weekday sleep duration was 6.4 hours, while 68.6 percent experienced sleep disturbances, including insomnia (29.3 percent), snoring (24.7 percent) and sleep apnea (9.4 percent).

Despite 86.5 percent of respondents viewing sleep as essential for physical health and 84.6 percent for mental well-being, only 29.5 percent reported being satisfied with their sleep.

“The number of sleep apnea patients in Korea nearly tripled, rising from 45,067 in 2018 to 153,802 in 2023,” said Professor Kim Hye-eun, director of the Sleep Research Center at International St. Mary's Hospital.

“Nearly half of snorers ignore treatment, but snoring can signal sleep apnea,” Kim added, stressing the need for active care such as continuous positive airway pressure therapy, which uses a machine to keep airways open during sleep.

Despite 71.4 percent of survey respondents acknowledging the need for sleep apnea treatment, awareness of CPAP therapy remained low, with only 26 percent familiar with it and just 29.7 percent aware of its benefits.

The survey also highlighted that many sleep apnea patients struggle with awareness of their condition, often discovering it only through their partners or spouses. Even after becoming aware of it, only 59.5 percent sought medical treatment, while 27.7 percent remained unaware of CPAP therapy.

According to Philips Korea, its Sleep and Respiratory Care division develops treatments for sleep and respiratory disorders, including sleep apnea and asthma, through cutting-edge devices. It provides comprehensive care, integrating diagnosis, treatment and patient management with mobile apps and devices like CPAP and bilevel positive airway pressure, or BiPAP, machines.

“To realize Philips’ vision of ‘better care for more people,’ our sleep division is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for those suffering from respiratory-related disorders through sleep solutions such as CPAP machines, oxygen concentrators and ventilators,” said Shehaan Fernando, head of Philips’ Sleep and Respiratory Care division in the Asia-Pacific region.

The global CPAP market is expected to grow at an average annual rate of 7.51 percent until 2030, reflecting an increasing demand for sleep health solutions, he added.

Park Do-hyun, head of Philips Korea’s Sleep and Respiratory Care division, emphasized the prevalence of sleep apnea in Korea, estimating that approximately 15.8 percent of Korean adults -- equivalent to about 6.9 million people -- could be affected.

“Moving forward, Philips will collaborate with medical experts and partners to raise awareness about sleep apnea and proper treatment methods,” Park said. “Above all, we strive to deliver sleep health solutions that support treatment management and enhance sleep quality.”

By No Kyung-min (minmin@heraldcorp.com)